Teen Charged for Tweet-Taunting UK Diver

Britain's Tom Daley listens to his music player as he waits to take part in men's synchronized diving in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

(Newser)
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A British teenager has been arrested over an abusive tweet directed toward one of his country's Olympians, reports the BBC. After synchronized diver Tom Daley missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish, he received this: "You let your dad down i hope you know that." Daley's father, Rob, died of brain cancer last year, and his son had said prior to the Games that he wanted to win a medal in his father's honor. The teen faces charges related to "malicious communications," reports the Guardian.

It's at least the sixth case over the last six months in which UK police have investigated nasty tweets. A separate Guardian article makes the case that phone companies need to do a better job of letting Brits know that they face legal consequences for abusive commentary, thanks to a 2003 law. "Twitter just seems to bring out the worst in people, but people need to know, abuse is not a sanctionless act," says one lawyer. "You will be traced by police and you will be prosecuted." (Read more Tom Daley stories.)

THE QUOTED TWEET IS NOT WHY HE WAS ARRESTED: "A spokesman was unable to confirm whether the arrest was specifically over the tweets to Daley or subsequent Twitter conversations with other users." Subsequent tweets included threats to drown Tom Daley.